Right when I had lost my favorite MAC Chroma pencil, I found Maybelline's Unstoppable Highlighter in Fluffy Cloud with their limited edition display for Spring 2011 featuring products used during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. This white eyeliner (though labeled highlighter and probably multi-purpose) was exactly what the doctor ordered. There was even a $1 off coupon with the display! Yay!

I just had assumed that this product was going to be a shimmering white retractable pencil that I could use to highlight the inner corners of my eyes. Well, like mom said, don't just assume. I opened the top when I got home and was surprised to see that it was a pretty matte white. Weird right? But this actually turned out to work out better. I have been using it a lot for many of my looks inspired by spring flowers. See my Sakura-themed look here and more coming soon.

I'm pretty happy with my purchase, but I'm sad to see that this is limited edition. It stays on the lower waterline really well and applies very opaque white. I might have to go pick up another one from the display. If you see it, act fast because there are only two per display and these are limited edition!

Do you use white eyeliner? Are you ever surprised to open a product and get something different from what you thought?

What do you love more than a pair of tried and true jeans. From the initial press release, I was stoked about MAC's Jeanius collection. What's more iconic or American than denim? With that as a source of inspiration, I was imagining amazing blues eyeshadows in different finishes. Instead what was the result were pressed larger (more expensive) eyeshadows with oversprays and meh color payoff.... Less than riveting.

However one really nice surprise from the collection were two cool toned blushes. Overdyed and Pink Cult are the two limited edition powder blushes with Jeanius, and they definitely fill a whole in my blush collection. Overdyed is a bright magenta with a slight sheen, and Pink Cult is a flat muted matte dusty pink. Both apply very nicely with good pigmentation. Pink Cult is super smooth and not chalky at all. I was actually surprised as to how much color showed on my skintone when it looked so light in the pan.

Swatched. Pink Cult applied heavily, then with a blush brush. Overdyed heavily and with brush.

Overdyed.

Overdyed on skin.

Pink Cult looks surprising light in the pan.

Pink Cult on skin.

You wouldn't think it would show up so much from how it looks in the pan!

MAC Jeanius collection is available at maccosmetics.com and at MAC counters nationwide. Pink Cult and Overdyed Powder Blushes are $19.50 for 5.6g, 0.19oz.

Hubs just got back from a business trip to Asia, and he was soooooooooo nice to do some haulage for me while he was there. I have to give kudos to any man brave enough to walk up to a cosmetics counter, let alone one in a foreign country where you don't speak the language.

He knows I have a weakness for hard to get and pricey Japanese brands, and he was nice enough to bring new products from RMK's spring line. I will have complete swatches and eye looks to follow. My initial impressions are excited. I love the pressed eyeshadows. Two of the more metallic shades have chunky glitter and look like they would be perfect for highlighting near the tearducts. I was cracking up when my husband was giving me instructions that he had learned from the sales associate on how to apply the product. It was really cute!

For Derek Lam’s Spring 2011 runway show, Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director, Tom Pecheux, created a bold, architectural makeup look to complement the 1960’s California inspired collection. Strong orange eyes were the focus of the look, with a vibrant, structured orange line drawn straight across the top lash line and finished with a triangle of white in the inner-corner. To bring the trend from the runway to real life, Pecheux worked with Estée Lauder to create a couturecollection of three electric products... introducing Pure Color Orange Crush.

The exclusive, limited edition collection of products include two eyeshadows to recreate the original runway look and a Pure Color Gloss in a brilliant orange shade for those who want to transition the trend onto the lips. The Pure Color Orange Crush collection is housed in the same chic, blackened-blue packaging with the Estée Lauder cartouche, which was first introduced with the limited edition Pure Color Night Collection.

“As a makeup artist, you are always working with a woman to try to find what will make her feel and look her best,” said Pecheux. “Orange eyeshadow is a bold trend and not everyone feels comfortable with a bright eye, so I translated the shade into a lip gloss so women who love the look can wear it in their own way. I am known for making women look beautiful, sensual and sexy and I want them to feel comfortable in what they wear.”

According to Pecheux, Pure Color Orange Crush is a collection of three must-have products to mimic the bold color of the Spring season in wearable, every day formulas. Each product contains the exclusive True VisionTM Technology that wrapseach pigment in a crystalline laminate to provide intense color payout with amplified brilliancy.

Pure Color EyeShadow in Orange Crush creates a dynamic, animated impact with an even and color true application. Recreate the strong look seen on the runway with this powder eyeshadow that has buildable coverage to control the intensityof the finished look. $20

Pure Color EyeShadow in Sugar Cube is an incredibly smooth, shimmering white powder shadow that creates depth and contrast to the confident orange. Use as a base over the entire eyelid or mirror the look seen at the Derek Lam show with a dramatic triangle at the inner-corner of the eye. $20

Pure Color Gloss in Orange Crush saturates lips with vibrant orange pigments. The fiery hue is magnified and intense, making it boldly color true with an eye-catching, high-shine finish. $20

All products will be available for a limited time in limited quantities, beginning in April 2011. Exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman and www.esteelauder.com.

What's my take on this? This feels like one of those looks that are have a hard time transitioning from runway to real way. As Tom Pecheux said, I maybe one of those who may not feel comfortable with a bold eye. But I do love orange lippies, so I'm excited to see what the gloss looks like. What about you? Are you brazen enough to wear an orange eye?

New for Spring 2011 is a collaboration between Bobbi Brown and Tibi. Peonies are personally one of my favorite flowers, so I'm excited to see a collection focused around them. Here is some info from the press release. Neimanmarcus.com is having a beauty event starting the 24th with a tote bag filled with goodies with $100 purchase or more, and Bobbi Brown is giving away a lip and eye palette with your Bobbi Brown purchase of $150 or more.

“The pinks and purples in this collection are inspired by peonies, my favorite flower. Peonies are lush, decadent and delicate – just like the colors in the limited palette. I’ve also incorporated grey, a color that was big on runways this season. A great neutral, it’s totally versatile and a cool counterpoint to pink. And because I love accessories just as much as the girl next door, I asked Tibi to design a makeup case to match.” –Bobbi Brown

So what elements of a makeup collection equate to excitement? I think there are a few elements that add to the formula. 1. The packaging - Yes, I know you're not supposed to judge a book (or blush for that matter) by its cover, but it does add to the "want-it" factor. 2. The colors -the shades has to compliment the seasonality and the concept, but also be eye-catching enough to inspire the ooohs and ahhhs. 3. The products - they have to be good and perform. Add these bits together and you get wantzzz it!

Lancome Ultra Lavande Collection for Spring 2011.

Here is Lancome Ultra Lavande Collection. It perfectly equaled makeup collection excitement for me. The packaging is to die for. I love colors and one product stood out for me.

Aaron de Mey was inspired by Chez Régine's in Paris, a night club covered with silver and gold mirrors. Ombre Magnétique eyeshadow is meant to catch light like a disco ball. I can't wait to do a pretty lavender look with this eyeshadow. Leave a comment below if you have any suggestions for pairings.

Spectacular Sparkle - Extremely Long Wear Crease-Resistant.

This was very similar to some limited edition eyeshadows from Giorgio Armanithat were released for holiday 2010. See the review for them here. I was impressed by the new technology in the formula. It was literally something that I had never seen before! These eyeshadows were a hybrid of wet/dry, cream/pressed eyeshadow. The overall result was saturated color and smooth, long-wearing application. Now Lancome repeats its version of those eyeshadow. Lancome's version, Ombre Magnétique, are limited edition and available in four shade. These are slightly dryer. Eyes to Kill Eyeshadows are 4g 0.14oz each at $32 ($228.5 per oz), and the Lancome is slightly cheaper at $25 for 3.5g, 0.12oz ($208.33 per oz).

All aboard! Here is the second round of swatches from China Glaze Anchors Away collection ! This collection is putting in the mood for tropical cocktails with umbrellas on a sunset cruise. One of my favorite cruise/makeover movies is Now, Voyager starring Bette Davis. I could see her wearing a few of these colors.

If you missed Part 1, click here. There are 12 new shades in total, ranging from shimmering white to navy blue. Below are the berry, red, pink toned colors from the collection.

Ahoy!

Ahoy!

A bright jelly magenta with hot pink micro glitter suspended. This is hawt! One of my favorites from the collection.

Hey Sailor

Hey Sailor

An attention getting bright coral red creme. I don't own Rescue Beauty Lounge's Bangin', which I believe is more of a jelly, but I think from photos they look similar. Unfortunately, I don't have a bottle for a comp. I love this on nails and think it would really brighten up my toes (which need to come out of hibernation).

Life Preserver

Life Preserver

Such a pretty, spring color! A persimmon creme. It's a cross between orange, red and coral.

Black Pearl is a part of Chanel's Collection les Perles de Chanel. I admit, I was going to pass on this color. From initial pictures and swatches, I didn't think that this color was going to live up to the hype of past Chanel lacquers. Though it may not be "Jade-worthy," Black Pearl is a sophisticated and a très chic take on a black/grey polish. The overall effect is a lustrous steel gray with green irisdescent shimmer. After seeing the bottle in real life, I really appreciated the green in the shade. It brings a luminous effect to what could just be a flat steel metallic. Instead, Black Pearl is a very grown-up and not at all gothy color. You could definitely get away with this color at work even in a conservative environment.

I found my bottle's formulation to be a little thin, but it wasn't at all streaky or runny. Two coats for opacity. Three thin coats would probably be best for a soft and pearly finish.

Can you see the green in the shade?

Black Pearl is $25 for 13ml, 0.4oz. Black Pearl is limited edition and available at Chanel counters and at chanel.com.

What are your thoughts on this Black Pearl? Do you have any favorite Chanel lacquers?

Chanel debuts Ombres Perlées de Chanel, a limited edition quint eyeshadow palette, for their Spring 2011 collection, Collection les Perles de Chanel. Every picture of Coco, she is dripping not with diamonds but with pearls. They have become synonymous with what is iconic Chanel. The makeup from this collection captures that glowing luminescence that radiates from pearls.

The eyeshadows in this quint are all of a pearl luster finish. The texture is soft, creamy and blendable. All the shades aren't just straight up frosts or shimmers. Each carries a soft iridescence in blue, pink, violet, gold to add depth to the shade and draw glow where applied. I am highly impressed overall with the quality of this palette so far. It definitely stands up better than many of my recent Chanel quad purchases, especially the baked round eyeshadows. I can't wait to play with this more.

We will feature another post with dupes of the shades from this palette, but I have to say that this is the first Chanel product in a long time that has gotten me excited. More dish when I'm able to do a full review! But so far, very good!

Lustrous colors.

Click to enlarge.

Swatched over Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Chanel Ombres Perlées de Chanel is $65, limited edition and available at Chanel.com.

Comps coming soon! Are you a pearl girl (or guy)? Do you have a favorite Chanel quad, quint, palette, single or limited edition?